Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Newport News, VA
VS
Plano, TX
🏆 Plano leads 17 of 23 categories
Newport News
Virginia
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,355
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
185,118
Plano
Texas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$105,679 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
284,948 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Newport News, VA
Pros
Homes cost $179k less ($233,400 vs $412,500)
Rent averages $490/mo less ($1,209 vs $1,699)
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 94°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Plano
Cons
Median income trails Plano by $42,324/yr
Violent crime (736.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 4.4%)
Plano, TX
Pros
Households earn $42,324 more per year on average
79% less violent crime than Newport News
More college-educated — 58.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (151.6 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 49°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $412,500
Higher rents — median is $1,699/mo
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Newport News
Key Differences at a Glance
Newport News
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Newport News
Median Home Value
$179k less
$233,400 vs $412,500
Plano
Median Income
$42,324
$105,679 vs $63,355/yr
Plano
Violent Crime
79% lower
151.6 vs 736.0 per 100k
Plano
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.6% unemployment
Plano
Summer Heat
6.1°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 88.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Newport News, VA | Plano, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $233,400 ✓ Lower | $412,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,209 ✓ Lower | $1,699⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,355 | $105,679 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter | 25.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.5% | 22.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 162⚠ High | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | A+ (134) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% | 58.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.7% | 93.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newport News City Public Schools | PLANO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.0°F | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" | 40.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" | 2.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 185,118 | 284,948 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 38.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.6% | 56.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.2% ✓ More | 21.7% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Newport News's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Plano's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Newport News is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Plano leads 17 of 23 categories. Newport News wins 6 and Plano wins 17. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Newport News to Plano or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($233,400 vs $412,500 median home), income ($63,355 vs $105,679), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Newport News, VA and Plano, TX are about 1,175 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.